Patents by Inventor William Lawrence Byrne

William Lawrence Byrne has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9803865
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute an exhaust flow circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one exhaust gas flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
  • Patent number: 9631815
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute at least one of an exhaust flow, an oxidant flow, an oxidant-exhaust mixture, or any combination thereof circumferentially around the head end chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
  • Patent number: 9574496
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow separator configured to separate a first exhaust flow from an oxidant flow. The flow separator is configured to direct the first exhaust flow into the head end chamber. The turbine combustor also includes a mixing region configured to mix the first exhaust flow with the oxidant flow to provide an oxidant-exhaust mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, William Lawrence Byrne, Carolyn Ashley Antoniono
  • Patent number: 9422827
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus having an elongated body configured to be inserted into a tubular structure extending between a first combustor and a second combustor of a gas turbine engine. A movable arm may be positioned proximate to a first end of the elongated body, and the movable arm may be configured to engage a surface of the first combustor when the elongated body is placed within the tubular structure. A drive member may be accessible near a second end of the elongated body, and the drive member may be configured to rotate within the elongated body and to drive the movable arm along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body toward the second end to separate the tubular structure from the second combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Devin Patrick Perkins, William Lawrence Byrne
  • Patent number: 9010127
    Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20150052910
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus having an elongated body configured to be inserted into a tubular structure extending between a first combustor and a second combustor of a gas turbine engine. A movable arm may be positioned proximate to a first end of the elongated body, and the movable arm may be configured to engage a surface of the first combustor when the elongated body is placed within the tubular structure. A drive member may be accessible near a second end of the elongated body, and the drive member may be configured to rotate within the elongated body and to drive the movable arm along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body toward the second end to separate the tubular structure from the second combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Devin Patrick Perkins, William Lawrence Byrne
  • Publication number: 20140182304
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute an oxidant flow circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one oxidant flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
  • Publication number: 20140182302
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute at least one of an exhaust flow, an oxidant flow, an oxidant-exhaust mixture, or any combination thereof circumferentially around the head end chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
  • Publication number: 20140182305
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, a mixing region configured to mix an exhaust flow with an oxidant flow to provide an oxidant-exhaust mixture, and a flow distributor configured to distribute the oxidant-exhaust mixture circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one oxidant-exhaust mixture path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
  • Publication number: 20140182303
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute an exhaust flow circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one exhaust gas flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
  • Publication number: 20140182301
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow separator configured to separate a first exhaust flow from an oxidant flow. The flow separator is configured to direct the first exhaust flow into the head end chamber. The turbine combustor also includes a mixing region configured to mix the first exhaust flow with the oxidant flow to provide an oxidant-exhaust mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, William Lawrence Byrne, Carolyn Ashley Antoniono
  • Patent number: 8528839
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a single-piece swirler. The single-piece swirler includes a center body extending axially along the single-piece swirler, a first fuel passage inside the center body, and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body. A method for fabricating a combustor nozzle includes casting a single-piece swirler having a center body and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, William Lawrence Byrne, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20130227964
    Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8479519
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a diffusion tip for use with a fuel nozzle is described. The diffusion tip has a substantially circular body including an outer surface and an opposite inner surface. The diffusion tip body extends from a discharge end to an inlet end. The diffusion tip includes an inlet surface adjacent to the discharge end and defined within the body. A discharge surface is defined opposite the inlet surface. A plurality of diffusion apertures each extend between the discharge surface and the inlet surface, each aperture is oriented relative to the body to discharge a diffusion flow outward therefrom at an angle ? (gamma) measured in an X-Z plane between a centerline of the aperture and an X-axis extending tangentially to the outer surface, and at an angle ? (theta) measured in a Y-Z plane between the centerline of the aperture and a Y-axis extending radially outward from the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Chen, William Lawrence Byrne, Xiaoguang Yu, James Harper
  • Publication number: 20120304657
    Abstract: A flexible annular seal for insertion between concentrically assembled turbine combustor components includes an annular inner seal portion having a first solid annular edge and first plurality of spring fingers extending axially from the first solid annular edge; and an annular outer seal portion having a second solid annular edge and a second plurality of spring fingers extending axially from the second solid edge and overlying the first plurality of spring fingers such that the inner and outer seal portions are substantially fully engaged along an entire length dimension of the flexible annular seal. The second plurality of spring fingers are circumferentially offset from the first plurality of spring fingers, and free ends of the first plurality of spring fingers are bent around and over free ends of the second plurality of spring fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict MELTON, Keith Cletus Belsom, Thomas Edward Johnson, William Lawrence Byrne, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
  • Publication number: 20120181354
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a single-piece swirler. The single-piece swirler includes a center body extending axially along the single-piece swirler, a first fuel passage inside the center body, and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body. A method for fabricating a combustor nozzle includes casting a single-piece swirler having a center body and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, William Lawrence Byrne, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20120174589
    Abstract: An end cover assembly is provided in combination with a gas turbine combustor for capping a back end of a combustion chamber. The end cover assembly includes an end cover plate securable to the back end of the combustion chamber, and a monolith block secured to the end cover plate. The end cover plate is constructed without welded gas passage plates and without brazed flow passage inserts and includes fuel channels therethrough, where the fuel channels are sized and positioned to interact with fuel nozzle inlet ports. The monolith block includes internal fuel gas passages positioned relative to the fuel channels in the end cover plate to commute fuel gas to the fuel channels of the end cover plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Patrick Benedict Melton, William Lawrence Byrne
  • Publication number: 20100170249
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a diffusion tip for use with a fuel nozzle is described. The diffusion tip has a substantially circular body including an outer surface and an opposite inner surface. The diffusion tip body extends from a discharge end to an inlet end. The diffusion tip includes an inlet surface adjacent to the discharge end and defined within the body. A discharge surface is defined opposite the inlet surface. A plurality of diffusion apertures each extend between the discharge surface and the inlet surface, each aperture is oriented relative to the body to discharge a diffusion flow outward therefrom at an angle ? (gamma) measured in an X-Z plane between a centerline of the aperture and an X-axis extending tangentially to the outer surface, and at an angle ? (theta) measured in a Y-Z plane between the centerline of the aperture and a Y-axis extending radially outward from the centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Wei Chen, William Lawrence Byrne, Xiaoguang Yu, James Harper